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What’s New in the GRE Official Guide (4th Edition)
- GuideMe Test-Prep Expert
- Jul 29
- 8 min read
The GRE Official Guide 4th Edition (OG4) has arrived, fully updated for the new, shortened GRE format introduced in 2023. Nearly every chapter has been revised to match the ~2-hour exam, and ETS has added 150 brand-new practice questions organized into ten mixed verbal/quant sets. In addition to refreshed content and two official practice tests (each now 70 questions per section instead of 100), OG4 still includes in-depth strategy tips and detailed AWA sample essays. For graduate and MBA aspirants, including international students and those in the Middle East, this means access to the most authentic GRE practice material aligned with the current test.
In this post, we’ll highlight OG4’s new features, compare it with OG3 (and earlier versions), and briefly contrast it with popular third-party prep resources, such as Manhattan Prep and Kaplan.
New Features in the GRE Official Guide (4th Edition)
Aligned to the shorter GRE: OG4 adjusts for the new format (launched Sept. 2023) that cuts the test from ~4 hours to just under 2. Chapters have been updated to reflect the new section lengths and timing.
150 New Practice Questions: ETS added 10 mixed practice sets (5 verbal + 5 quant) with 150 authentic questions (15 each). These sets mix text completions, equivalence, CR, RC, and various quant problems, mirroring the style and difficulty of the real exam.
Two Official Practice Tests: GRE OG4 includes 2 full-length GRE practice tests built with real ETS questions. (Each now has 15 and 20 questions per section, totaling 70 per test.) These mirror the new format, but note they are shorter than the actual GRE (which has 27 questions per section). All questions in these tests were previously in OG3, just reduced in number.
Chapter Structure: The overall structure is similar to the 3rd edition, but OG4 adds two new chapters for the mixed practice sets. This “nail bomb” of new content was a long-awaited feature (GRE OG3 had no equivalent). Other chapters still cover general GRE info, analytical writing (AWA) strategies, and review of verbal/quant concepts.
Analytical Writing Updates: The new GRE has only one essay (the Issue task), so OG4’s AWA section focuses on that. It includes example Issue essays and step-by-step scoring guides for every half-point. (Notably, the Argument essay is dropped from GRE OG4, reflecting the exam change.)
Strategy and Explanations: Like previous editions, GRE OG4 provides in-depth descriptions of each question type with strategies and answer explanations. It also adds quantitative problem-solving steps and sample responses with rater commentary for the AWA section. These features help students understand ETS’s scoring and question logic.
How GRE OG4 Differs from the 3rd Edition
OG4 is largely built on the 3rd edition’s framework but updated for the new test.
Key differences include:
Test Format: OG3 was written for the old ~4-hour GRE (with two essays), whereas OG4 targets the new ~2-hour GRE. In practice, OG3 covered the “revised General Test” format (issues and strategies as of 2017), while GRE OG4 is timed and structured for the current exam.
Practice Tests: OG3 included 4 full tests (2 in book, 2 free online via PowerPrep). OG4 contains only 2 in-book tests, each 70 questions long. In other words, OG4 has 60 fewer official practice questions in its tests than OG3 did (70 vs 100 per test). (ETS expects students to use OG3 or their online resources to get extra practice tests if needed.)
New Questions: OG3 had no new questions; it relied on existing retired ETS questions. OG4, by contrast, adds 150 new questions organized into 10 mixed sets. This is the first time in nearly a decade that ETS has published so many new GRE questions in one volume.
Chapters: OG4’s chapter count is higher. Aside from minor tweaks, it has two additional chapters for the new mixed practice sets. OG3 had separate sections for overviews, verbal practice, quantitative practice, AWA, etc., but GRE OG4 appends the two new practice set sections at the end.
AWA Content: GRE OG3 included strategies and sample essays for both the Issue and Argument tasks. OG4 includes only the Issue essay (since the Argument task was removed), but still provides scored examples and tips.
Miscellaneous: Both editions include test-taking tips, reading strategies, and question breakdowns, but OG4’s content is more succinct to match the shorter test. (For example, every chapter has been “adjusted to align with the shorter test format”.) GRE OG4 also consolidates any obsolete information and incorporates the latest GRE guidelines.
Below is a quick comparison table of OG3 vs OG4:
Feature | 3rd Edition (2017) | 4th Edition (2025) |
GRE Format Covered | Old GRE (~4h, 2 essays) | New GRE (~2h, 1 essay) |
Practice Tests (book) | 2 tests (100 Q each) | 2 tests (70 Q each) |
Practice Tests (online) | 2 tests (PowerPrep, 100 Q) | None (OG4 includes no online tests) |
New Practice Questions | 0 (only recycled questions) | 150 new questions in 10 mixed sets |
Additional Chapters | No mixed practice chapters | +2 chapters (Verbal/Quant Mixed Practice Sets) |
AWA Section | Issue + Argument (samples & commentary) | Issue only (argument dropped), with new samples |
Total Pages | ~640 pages (3rd ed.) | 800 pages (4th ed.) |
Alignment | Revised-test content (pre-2023 exam) | Fully updated for the new exam format |
Manhattan Prep vs. Kaplan vs. Magoosh vs. GuideMe: Which Test Prep Book Should You Choose?
ETS’s Official Guide is the gold standard for authentic practice, but students often use other prep books or courses. Here’s how OG4 stacks up against some popular third-party resources:
Manhattan Prep (5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems, 5th ed.) Strength: Massive drill book with ~1,400 practice problems, good for quantity of math practice. It includes detailed problem explanations and covers sub-topics in depth. Weakness: Questions are not official ETS problems. Many Manhattan questions are sharply categorized (e.g. specific algebra/geometry drills) and may not reflect the exact style of real GRE items. Reviewers note its verbal practice is notably weaker than quant, and some editions have production errors. In short, Manhattan offers lots of practice, but you should complement it with official ETS material to ensure realism.
Kaplan GRE Prep Plus Strength: Very high quantity of practice questions (Kaplan advertises >1,500 Qs plus several practice tests) and robust online content. The book also covers test-taking strategies and even includes general GRE advice (stress management, applying to grad school, etc.). Weakness: Like Manhattan, Kaplan’s questions are “imitation” GRE problems, not taken from actual tests. ETS-certified experts caution that a large volume of non-official questions may not translate into actual score gains. In practice, Kaplan is useful for additional drills, but OG4’s authentic questions are more reliable for high-level preparation.
Magoosh GRE Prep (2017 edition) Strength: Budget-friendly guide with clear explanations and an accompanying online platform (videos, question bank, practice tests). It’s good for fundamentals and offers 1 full practice test in the book. Weakness: It’s relatively concise (~470 pages) and hasn’t been updated in a while, so it lacks coverage of some topics. Users report that it explains basic problems well but may omit steps or tough question types. In summary, Magoosh is great for getting started or boosting a mid-range score, but it shouldn’t replace comprehensive official material when aiming for a top score.
GuideMe GRE Book (2025 Edition) Strength:
A highly strategic and class-tested book, fully updated for the new 2025 GRE format. Unlike other books that rely on a single content source, this book is a carefully curated mix of official retired GRE questions, the best-quality questions from top online forums like GMAT Club and Reddit, and custom questions developed by expert GRE instructors, all selected to mirror ETS’s logic and difficulty.
What makes this book unique is that it is not just a study guide; it's actively used in our in-person GRE classes by top-scoring mentors who continuously refine its content based on what actually works for students.
The book includes detailed strategies, timed drills, pacing techniques, and section-by-section guidance that helps students build both foundational concepts and high-level test-taking skills. It is especially effective for international students, particularly in the Middle East, as it explains verbal reasoning and math concepts in a clear, structured, and accessible way.
Designed to balance quality over quantity, the book prepares students for real GRE challenges, especially those targeting competitive scores (320+).
Weakness: It doesn’t offer the massive volume of practice questions like Manhattan, as the focus is more on accuracy and relevance than sheer quantity. Instead of 1,500+ repetitive drills, GuideMe offers high-quality, handpicked questions that actually resemble GRE difficulty and logic. Also, students who prefer entirely self-paced, casual study might initially find its structured approach demanding, though many come to appreciate that this structure is exactly what leads to consistent score improvement.
By contrast, ETS’s OG4 contains only official GRE questions. Its strengths are authenticity and exam alignment: every question is past real-exam content, so there’s no doubt they match GRE style. The weaknesses of third-party sources (drill focus, potential errors, outdated content) underscore why most experts insist on building a foundation with the Official Guide.. As one reviewer noted, “Nearly all of these [ETS] questions have value” for learning the test’s language and nuances.
Benefits for International (Middle East) Test-Takers
For GRE aspirants outside the U.S. including those in the Middle East, the OG4 changes offer several advantages:
Global Relevance: The GRE is a standardized test worldwide, and the Official Guide’s content is universally applicable. OG4’s practice questions come from real tests taken by a diverse set of examinees, so they’re not region-specific. Studying with ETS material helps international students get used to the exact wording and formats they’ll see on exam day.
Alignment with Current Exam: Middle Eastern universities and programs require the latest GRE. OG4 is updated for the shorter test all takers face, so you won’t waste time on outdated formats. Knowing the exact number of questions and timing is crucial for effective prep and OG4 reflects that precisely.
Authentic Practice: In regions where official test centers or prep classes may be fewer, access to real GRE questions is key. OG4 provides scores of such questions; for example, its new mixed practice sets include question types (like multi-blank text completions or multi-select) that international test-takers often find challenging, offering a realistic preparation experience.
Accessibility: The book is available globally as a paperback or eBook through ETS and major retailers. (ETS sells these guides via its online store, and sites like Amazon ship to the Middle East.) For students in the region, this means OG4 can usually be ordered and shipped internationally. There are also likely local academic bookstores (e.g. in UAE, KSA, etc.) stocking the official guides once released.
Preparation Alignment: OG4’s strategies and sample essays show how ETS expects answers to be structured. For non-native English speakers common in the Middle East, seeing actual high-scoring essay responses and official rationale (provided in OG4’s AWA section) is especially useful. Likewise, the step-by-step quant solutions can clarify any math concepts.
In summary, the 4th edition’s updates ensure that international test-takers get a preparation source in lockstep with the exact GRE they will encounter. Its new questions and exam-aligned format can help bridge preparation gaps when other local resources are scarce. As one expert put it, doing all the ETS questions (including the new ones in OG4) is highly recommended to “get used to ETS’s ways and wording”, advice that applies universally.
The GRE Official Guide 4th Edition is a significant refresh of ETS’s flagship prep book. It adapts to the new, shorter exam format, introduces 150 fresh practice questions, and retains the trusted guidance of previous editions. Compared to its predecessor, OG4 offers a more streamlined approach with updated practice tests and strategy sections. While it doesn’t replace the need for in-depth quantitative study (some users still suggest supplementary math review), OG4 is the definitive source for authentic GRE practice.
For any serious GRE student, especially MBA and grad-school applicants from the Middle East, OG4 should be a must-have. Its official content and new features give you an edge by ensuring your preparation closely mirrors the real test. When combined with quality strategy (whether self-study or courses), the updated Official Guide can help you study efficiently and enter test day with confidence.
Sources: Official ETS descriptions; expert reviews and forums.
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